Sanitation- related controls

Hello,

Recently one of our customers posed this question as to how can you validate the sanitation related controls like How long can a processing line run between cleaning?

Any help would be appreciated.

Best,

Hi, CDV;

The most straight forward method would be to sample product during various production schedules and develop a microbiological profile for each. Verify with monitoring and records that all controls are effective of course when sampling.

An example I could imagine would be;

• sample X at Y startup
• Sample X at Y mid shift
• Sample X at Y end shift

I would detail as many environmental and process conditions as possible when sampling occurs (product temperatures, ambient temperatures, pH, Aw, salt phase, operator, time, who is drawing the sample, etc.)

If you could give more details as to the product and process of your business this would lend for a more concise answer.

Thank you for the response. 

I am considering Prunes and walnuts as the product. Prunes are re hydrated, pitted and packed while walnuts are cracked, sized and packed 

Hi, CDV;

 

The most straight forward method would be to sample product during various production schedules and develop a microbiological profile for each. Verify with monitoring and records that all controls are effective of course when sampling.

 

An example I could imagine would be;

 

• sample X at Y startup
• Sample X at Y mid shift
• Sample X at Y end shift

I would detail as many environmental and process conditions as possible when sampling occurs (product temperatures, ambient temperatures, pH, Aw, salt phase, operator, time, who is drawing the sample, etc.)

 

If you could give more details as to the product and process of your business this would lend for a more concise answer.

Thank you for the response. 

I am considering Prunes and walnuts as the product. Prunes are re hydrated, pitted and packed while walnuts are cracked, sized and packed 

Some good info in this whitepaper.

Marshall

Hello,

 

Recently one of our customers posed this question as to how can you validate the sanitation related controls like How long can a processing line run between cleaning?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

Best,

Any particular FS Standard involved ? eg SQF ?

This often defines the necessary approach.

Any particular FS Standard involved ? eg SQF ?

 

This often defines the necessary approach.

Yes! considering BRC

Thanks!

Some good info in this whitepaper.

 

Marshall

Thank you Marshall,  This was a really good piece of information

Hi CDV,

I assume the cleaning controls you are referring to are associated with PRPs.

If so the BRC (validation) cleaning requirement is introduced in 2.7.3 and, depending on the zone risk status, elaborated in clauses such as 4.11.3

(I note that BRC also require Verification of  PRPs. (2.12.1). At one time this was the only requirement for PRPs, ie no Validation. So more work now although there may likely be some duplication of procedures where the cleaning function is involved.)

IMEX the answer to yr OP  basically depends on risk assessment as usual. Difficult to be more specific without knowing some details of the process involved. More precisely, it depends on what "hazard" is being "controlled" within  BCPA(RL).

For example if the "B" "hazard" was characterizable by generic microbial status of FCS, then micro.data could validate any arbitrary initial frequency. Similarly test kits could validate the adequacy of any specific allergenic cross-contamination control although the frequency here is likely to be "when changing product" if only one line involved . Other options such as ATP are mentioned in BRC7.

addendum

This article may clarify some of the aspects under discussion -

Validating FS Controls.pdf   317.75KB   48 downloads

addendum

 

This article may clarify some of the aspects under discussion -

 

Validating FS Controls.pdf

The material was of great help. thank you. We are basically going to undertake a risk assessment and validate the process thereafter